The Excel file may say it’s locked if the user who shared it with you is currently editing the document. It can also be because the Office app running in the background has already opened the file.

If you have sensitive data you'd like to keep from prying eyes in a Microsoft Excel file, the easiest way to protect it is with Excel's built-in password tools.

You can stop or prevent users from editing directly in cells in Excel. You have to lock and protect Cells in Excel by following these steps.

There are several options available to you to protect your Excel file with a password. Remember that once you protect the Excel file, you cannot open it without entering the password.

Want to protect an important Word document or Excel spreadsheet? Here's how to add a password, make documents read-only, and tap into other tricks to safeguard sensitive files.

Sending Excel files containing crucial financial and business data has risks. To add a layer of protection, you should learn to password protect an Excel file.